Lately, I've been coping with more pain than usual and trying in vain to find some relief. I've noticed that by the early afternoon, I'm exhausted, tight lipped and short. My only escape from it has been to sleep.

My Dad, the original cynic, used to tell me that:

"Moniker, pain builds character, ... for more pain."

If I am left to interpret his prophetic statement, then I'll assume he means that it's a given, like paying taxes and breathing, it's part of life. As pain continues to have it's way with my psyche, the fear burrows into my dreams. In middle of the night, last night, I recall sitting up and asking Austin in a panic..

What if the pain never ends?

oh, my Dad would have a good laugh at that one, deeming it rhetorical, no doubt. This morning I considered canceling my appointment with my coach, Jessica, because I knew "pain" would end up being a topic, because, that's how we roll.

I discovered that exploring pain is even more painful then the pain itself, but it's also productive in providing relief.

Some ground we covered:

Being with pain: What is that like for me?

Sometimes it feels too big for me to handle or hold.

It makes me feel powerless, trapped and imprisoned.

What does this feeling of prison bring up for me?

It makes me think about my life and having come so far in terms of being free from some pretty heinous emotional pain, only to now be plagued with physical pain. WTF is THAT all about?

Feeling like a pain free life is always somehow just out of reach for me. (Just you Monica! everyone else has a pain free life!)

Feeling like the self-compassion well is dried up, or like the last drop of self- compassion essential oil has been used up, it's essence, GONE.

If pain had some geography what would it be?

A Wall.

I just come to a place where there is a wall of pain.

There's just me against the wall and I'm so tired of coming up against "the wall".

What else?

The pain makes makes me ashamed, it makes me needy, and I fear being seen as if I'm somehow broken and useless.

That this pain is being "done to me" or perhaps I choose the pain in another life (lol- because that's the sick twisted thinking you can count on me for!).

What would pain be if it were something to practice being with?

Patience. Oh how I hate you.

Patience can be a useful practice when one is healing.

What can "be" in the meantime?

Rest

It's ok to rest when I can't do anything else.

It's ok to be tired of the pain.

It's ok to be pissed off about it.

It's ok to to be afraid.

Still in pain with no resolutions, and yet somehow, I'm feeling way better than I was.

Monica Rodgers is a serial entrepreneur with over 25+ years of business development experience including: sales, brand development, social media marketing, business coaching, life coaching & consulting.

Monica is the founder of Little Bits by Monica Rodgers, The Earth Savers Gang Story-Book Series, The Revelation Project, Revelation Media and has just completed her Life Coaching Certification Program with CTI Coaches Training. Please connect with her Linked In Profile here.